MONDAY 9 SEPTEMBER
SHARP negotiations on Thursday quickly resolved the impasse between Thanda Royal Zulu FC and the City of uMhlathuze over controversial usage of the central sports complex.
Thanda management had been told their first home match, against Santos on 14 September, would have to be played elsewhere as the stadium was required for the Mayoral Games.
‘Thankfully, this has been overruled and we will play this important fixture in front of our fans,’ said Thanda general manager Thabane Gumede.
What still needs to be resolved, is a similar impending situation for the next two home matches (28 September vs Vasco and 4 October vs Chippa), when the stadium is ‘booked’ for music bashes.
These have been vigorously opposed by the Ward 2 committee, following widespread complaints over early morning noise, broken glass, unruly behaviour and excessive littering that accompany such functions.
Meanwhile, a further bit of good news for Thanda is that they have won the first round in their appeal that currently sits before the world’s highest sports dispute resolution body, the Lucerne-based International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Thanda is seeking justice after being denied promotion from the National First Division (NFD) to the Premier Soccer League when they played three games fewer than other teams during the past season.
Argument was made that CAS did not have jurisdiction to rule on Thanda’s complaint, but this was overruled.
The matter will be decided by CAS in October.
THURSDAY 5 SEPTEMBER
THANDA Royal Zulu FC management were delivered a bombshell on Wednesday when they were notified that their first three National First Division home matches may not be played at the uMhlathuze Stadium.
Ironically, this was just one day after mayor Elphas Mbatha reported that he was pushing SAFA (SA Football Association) to let the City know what was needed to upgrade the stadium to PSL status, as provincial funding was available.
And the notification caused further waves of anger when the committee of Ward 2, in which the stadium is located, learned that two of the venue cancellations were because music concerts had been scheduled to take place on match days.
Ward 2 has long and urgently lobbied council to cease giving permission for concerts at the venue, as loud music through the night and broken glass, masses of litter and damage to sports fields are inevitable outcomes.
The letter sent to Thanda from Rogers Ngcobo of the City’s sports department contained the following:
‘Kindly be advised that some dates for your home fixtures clash with other major events taking place within the Sport Complex which were booked for early in the year. The affected dates are (1) 14th September 2013, (2) 28th September 2013, (3) 5th October 2013 and 9th November 2013. We kindly request that you reschedule fixtures on the above-mentioned dates since clients made exclusive booking and will be collecting entrance fees at the main gate.’
‘It is obvious that the City does not understand that we cannot reschedule our matches; this is done by the PSL and they are already threatening that if we can’t host the matches here, they will be played in Durban,’ said Thanda general manager Thabani Gumede.
‘We would lose home ground advantage and revenue. It is unfair to our thousands of supporters, who are also ratepayers.
‘And what do I tell our major sponsors, who deserve coverage here, where their employees live?
‘As fate has it, our first three games are against the top NFD sides Santos, Vasco and Chippa United.
‘These are must win games if we are to gain promotion.’
Gumede was urgently attempting on Wednesday to arrange a compromise with the municipality and had offered all the participants free admission to the stadium to watch the Thanda match.
In this he had solid support from Ward 2 councillor Alen Viljoen.
‘I do not see that the Mayoral Games on 14 September need to be occupied by amateurs on the main field, rather than by the City’s proud professional team, most of whose players are from this area.
‘As far as the concerts are concerned, we don’t want them here and have let both the City and COGTA know this in no uncertain terms.
‘They should use the ZCBF venue, where there are no houses nearby,’ said Viljoen.
‘If it is not possible to cancel these concerts for legal reasons, the logical alternative would be to use the front gate of the stadium for the show people and the back (rugby club) entrance for soccer fans, to accommodate both.
‘If these games are indeed shifted to Durban, council can expect a severe backlash.
‘This is, after all, a sports stadium paid for and used by ratepayers, and not a concert venue.
